The meaning of online problematic situations for children: results of qualitative cross-cultural investigation in nine European countries

Smahel, David and Wright, Michelle F.
(2014)
The meaning of online problematic situations for children: results of qualitative cross-cultural investigation in nine European countries.
EU Kids Online, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.

Abstract

Key Findings:
- In this report, the findings of qualitative research from the EU Kids Online III study are presented. The research included children who used the internet weekly. The children were from nine European countries: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
- This research focused on the following: what children perceive as being potentially negative or problematic while using the internet, what risks children are aware of when using the internet, what consequences online negative experiences might have, how children react to negative experiences, what children do to avoid or prevent these problematic experiences, and why children perceive certain situations as negative.
- Interviews and focus groups were used to collect children’s data. The main fieldwork, using the revised research procedures guide and the topic guide, was carried out from February to September 2013 in all nine countries, with children aged 9–16 (N = 378). Schools or youth centers were used to recruit children for 56 focus groups and 114 interviews.
- The term “children” refers to children aged 9–16. Internet usage refers to a variety of activities across various platforms, which can be accessed anywhere, alone, or with others.
(Contributors (in alphabetical order): Monica Barbovschi, Catherine Blaya, Miguel Angel Casado, Martina Černíková, Lorleen Farrugia, Maialen Garmendia, Leslie Haddon, Leen d’Haenens, Estefanía Jimenez, Ana Jorge, Bojana Lobe, Giovanna Mascheroni, David Smahel, Sofie Vandoninck, Anca Velicu, Michelle F. Wright)